My Eleven Favorite Gay Anthems

When I finally got an iPod and was loading all my CDs etc. onto my PC I realised that a lot of my music, particularly my favorite songs, were actually either "gay anthems" (definition) or popular in the gay community.

I don't know what that might say about my sexuality - perhaps that can be a subject for a future hub!

This is a collection of my favorite gay anthems. Mainly disco, all have a hard thumping beat and most just make you want to put your hands in the air and start dancing!

I'll add more as I choose them.

You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Sylvester

Sylvester - the one and only. I first saw this on Top of the Pops in the UK, and I remember wondering why he had make-up on. Ah, the innocence of youth.

We Are Family - Sister Sledge

This is one of my favorite songs ever. You can't cover this one. You couldn't do it, or Sister Sledge, justice.

It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

Hallelujah! It's the Weather Girls! This is just plain, old fun!

I Don't Feel Like Dancing - The Scissor Sisters

Something from this century! The Scissor Sisters. You can really tell this was co-written with Elton John.

You can't embed the video from YouTube, but here's a live version.

I Feel Love - Donna Summer

The first time I heard this was on the radio on a Sunday afternoon on a sunny day. 1975 or 76 I think. I just remember the synthesizer and wondered what type of music is was, because it sounded great!

There are not many versions of this song (sung by Donna Summer) on YouTube. Here's a video set to a remix of the original. It's quite good!

Vogue - Madonna

A fantastic song and a fantastic video. This is the first video I remember that brings more thant music - it brought fashion, attitide and more!

If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher

How can you not have a Cher song in this list? How can you not have "If I Could Turn Back Time"?

All I can say is "lucky gun".

Freedom 90 - George Michael

I had considered Faith, or even Outside, but this is my favorite George Michael song and one of my favorite videos ever. Unfortunately, I can only show the unplugged version - which is pretty good though.

I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

I guess this could be viewed as the definitive gay anthem. Having said that a LOT of people of different orientations love this song. Here's some trivia on it:

It was initially a B-side. The A-side was called "Substitute".

It won the grammy for "Best Disco Recording of the Year" in 1980. The only time the award has been presented!

The video was filmed in a nightclub called "Xenon". The skater's name is Sheila Reid-Pender, from the skating group "The Village Wizards".

It's been covered by lots of people including CXake, Dame Shirley Bassey, R.E.M., and Diana Ross; but not Aretha Franklin.

(Re)Light My Fire - Take That!

This is my favorite Take That! song - mainly because Lulu is in it. She really can rip out a song!

Take a Chance on Me - Erasure

This is lucky - able to get an ABBA song in the list without it actually being from ABBA, so I can take my time in choosing the actual ABBA one.

This is a great cover and a great video too. Dancing with your cross dressing self is just too much!

Armand Van Helden's "You Don't Know Me". "You don't even know me. You say that I'm not living right. You don't understand me. So why do you judge my life?"

lord Thorpe 7 years ago

marco a I think the track you might be thinking of is called "Rise up" by the Sundance kid's featuring Chance. Chance sounds like Aretha Franklin her real name is Denetria Champ

marco a 8 years ago

good choices!!! i like how they span across many gennerations of homos. i have been trying to get my hands on what i consider some ol school gay anthems from the early 90's. i was under age and sneakin' into gay bars at the time. one song in particular sticks out and i have no clue as to who the artist is, nor the name of the song. it's very dancy with a female singer "you better rise up, rise up". does anyone have a clue as to what i am talkin about???

bronksi beat are awesome!!!

SteveA 8 years ago

I think two pioneering songs that made the gay dance movement into it's modern setting were Bronksi Beat's Small Town Boy (the video is about a young boy coming out) and the other is the undeniable FGTH Relax (have you seen the video for this).

Christine Mulberry 8 years ago

It's raining men has to be my favorite on the list. It's fun!

Author

xtnshun 8 years agofrom Reston, VA

Excellent idea Jose. I'll think about that.

José 8 years ago

Good choices! Excellent songs, but I think you are missing songs of Mariah Carey!

Brett 9 years ago

I am looing for a house tune from the late 90's or turn of the century. It starts with a monologue and the last thing the voice over says is &quot;I am FIERCE!&quot; and then the song starts. Any ideas?

O-Ren 9 years ago

nice list..but no &quot;YMCA&quot; by the village people? Or ANY Janet Jackson? Come on!

Sheena Luvr 9 years ago

You should look at Sheena's cover of &quot;Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You&quot;.